1. Head into Raleigh for Out! Raleigh Pride, a free event celebrating the LGBT community with live entertainment, local vendors and artists, food trucks, a kids’ zone, a beer garden, and more! Saturday, June 25, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; Fayetteville Street, Raleigh. outraleigh.com
2. It may be in Durham, but the Festival for the Eno is something no one in the Triangle should miss! One of the premier arts and folk festivals in the Southeast, attendees enjoy vendors, live music, food trucks, a craft show, and beer tents. Plus, it’s right on the river! All proceeds benefit the water and lands of the Eno River Basin. Saturday, July 2 and Monday, July 4, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; West Point on the Eno, Durham City Park. enofest.org
Peak City Pig Fest. Photo by Jonathan Fredin
3. Head to downtown Apex for Peak City Pig Fest, where 42 cook teams will compete for more than $12,000 in prize money cooking chicken, ribs, beef, brisket, and pork. Yum! Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23; Downtown Apex. peakcitypigfest.com
Cary Night Market
4. Shop local in the heart of Cary at the Cary Night Market. Find locally made goods and enjoy music, food, drinks, and entertainment at the old library site. Friday, June 17, 5–9 p.m.; 310 S. Academy St., Cary. raleighnightmarket.com
5. Theatre in the Park presents “The Sweet Delilah Swim Club” this summer. In this hilarious and touching comedy, five Southern women, free from husbands, kids, and responsibilities, set aside a long weekend to meet at the same beach cottage — the “Sweet Delilah” — on NC’s Outer Banks. June 3–4, 9–11, 17–18, 7:30 p.m. June 5, 12, 19, 3 p.m.; $20–25; 107 Pullen Road, Raleigh. theatreinthepark.com
GalaxyCon Raleigh. Shutterstock.
6. Attend a four-day festival of fandom at GalaxyCon Raleigh with celebrities, artists, writers, cosplayers, entertainers, and fans like you! July 28–31; $30 and up; Raleigh Convention Center. galaxycon.com
Raleigh’s International Food Festival. Photo by Jonathan Fredin
7. Travel the world without leaving town at Raleigh’s International Food Festival! This event celebrates Raleigh’s diversity, art, culture, traditions, and history with over 30 food and dessert trucks from around the globe, plus an outdoor dance party! Saturday, June 4, 12–10 p.m.; Downtown Raleigh.
Pimento Cheese Festival
8. Pimento cheese lovers, rejoice! The Pimento Cheese Festival is once again coming to Cary. Enjoy live music, local breweries, pimento cheese samples, and test your skills in the pimento cheese sculpting contest! Saturday, June 11, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.; Downtown Cary Park. townofcary.org
4th of July. Photo by Jonathan Fredin
9. Proud to be an American? Attend one of the area’s many 4th of July celebrations, whether it be the annual Raleigh 4th of July fi reworks display, the Apex Olde Fashioned Fourth of July, or the Town of Cary July 4th celebration at Koka Booth Amphitheatre.
10. Last but not least, the Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival is set for the beginning of August, so mark your calendars! The event includes two big days with 60+ beers, 40+ bourbons and LOTS of BBQ! Friday, Aug. 5, 6–10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, 12–6 p.m.; $42 and up; Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary. cary.beerandbourbon.com
- Things to Do: June/July 2022
- Notable Teens 2022
- The Rise of Board Game Cafés
- Family Volunteerism
- Sea-nic Boat Racing
- Small Business Spotlight: Bumble Brews
- Nonprofit Spotlight: The Alice Aycock Poe Center for Health Education
- Restaurant Profile: A’Verde Cocina + Tequila Library
- Bibibop
- Liquid Assets: The Ultimate Bloody Mary from The Blind Pelican Seafood House
- Liquid Assets: Crème de l’Orange Cider from Bull City Ciderworks
- On Trend: Private Theater Rentals at Paragon Theaters
- Garden Adventurer: Naked Gardening
